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| In August, 2005, Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, formerly Crown Prince, became the sixth King of Saudi Arabia, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Prime Minister. He remained head of the Kingdom's National Guard which he has commanded since 1962. Born in Riyadh in 1924, he was given a formal religious education. Throughout his long public life, HRH Crown Prince Abdullah has exerted a major influence on both the domestic and foreign policy of the Kingdom. King Abdullah has added to his early education at the royal court with extensive reading of history, politics and social affairs. His years spent with the bedouin in the desert reinforced in him the traditional bedouin values of honor, generosity, simplicity and courage. |
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| From the early years of his manhood, he has been closely involved in events inside the Kingdom, invaluable experience not only for dealing with the internal affairs of the Kingdom but also for the role he has played on the wider stage of international affairs. Since his appointment, the King has transformed the National Guard into not only an effective modern military force but also a unique social and cultural institution. He has played a particularly noteworthy role in preserving and celebrating the cultural heritage of the Kingdom. |
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